PRESS REVIEW, OCTOBER 2, 2008

The daily Hayastani Hanrapetutyun writes that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed yesterday a decree dismissing Hranush Hakobian from the office of the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Diaspora Ties Committee and with another one appointing Hranush Hakobian Diaspora minister. The daily also writes that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Armenia October 2-3 at the invitation of the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The daily says that within the framework of the visit Lavrov will meet with his Armenian counterpart after which a joint press conference will be given. The daily also writes about the second day of the visit of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Tbilisi. It writes that President Sargsyan put a wreath on the memorial to the Georgian victims, afterwards met with the professor staff of the Tbilisi State University and students where he delivered a speech referring to the Armenian-Georgian relations, number of regional issues, prospects of cooperation. The daily says rector of the university Georgi Khobua granted Serzh Sargsyan the title of honorable doctor of the Tbilisi State University. At the end of the official visit the president met with more than 200 representatives of Georgian Armenian community, the daily says. The daily Kapital writes that Armenian former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian announced yesterday about the birth of the “Civilitas” Foundation established by him. The daily says that Oskanian said that the foundation aims at promoting the display of Armenia’s statehood and commitments as well as protection of rights of the Armenian citizens. “For reaching our goal the foundation must work in two directions – council of foreign relations and democracy and development initiative,” the daily cited Oskanian as saying. The daily also writes about the fourth annual “DigiTec 2008” international exhibition which will be held in Yerevan October 3-5 with the participation of 50 local and foreign companies. The daily says that according to the organizers the number of visitors of the exhibition is expected to reach 12,000. The daily Azg writes that in near future a competition will be announced on selecting the words for the new hymn. The daily says that yesterday at National-Assembly-Government Q&A Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosian stated that in the previously announced competition the commission approved the music of Aram Khachatrian and in the new one the words of the hymn will be chosen. The daily also writes that on September 30 the chairman of the Armenian Oversight Chamber Ishkhan Zakarian met with the director of the Armenian office of the World Bank Aristomene Varudakis and discussed and clarified their observations connected with the implementation of “Town Heating” program. The daily says that the sides registered that as of the moment there are no controversies between the World Bank and Oversight Chamber in the issue. The daily Hayots Ashkhar writes that in connection with the incident in “Odnoklassnik” café which took life of Andranik Babayan, two people have been arrested 40-years old Sahak Azibekian and 44-years old Samvel Alikhanian. The daily says earlier another person Armen Sargsian pleaded guilty. The daily also writes that during the visit of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Georgia an agreement has been reached over reconstruction and renovation of road from Javakhq to Ajaria. The daily Aravot writes that yesterday the presentation of “Public Relations” book authored by Astghik Avetisian, professor of Yerevan State University took place. The daily says that the book is intended for students, professors, non-governmental, political organizations and ministries. The Russian daily Novoye Vremya writes that famous tennis player Argentinean Armenian David Nalbandian is in Yerevan. The daily says within the framework of the visit Nalbandian will have masters’ classes for young Armenian tennis-players.